Two goals in the opening 12 minutes set promotion-seeking Ipswich, managed by Kieran McKenna, on their way, and they remain third in the table, hot on the heels of leaders Coventry, who defeated Leicester 2-1, and Middlesbrough, who beat West Brom 3-2 on Friday night.
Rovers conceded an own goal from debutant Eiran Cashin, while Ipswich midfielder Taylor scored the second, and Szmodics was on target in the 88th minute — to add the gloss — in a match where the hosts spurned a series of missed chances.
Blackburn, who failed to have a shot on target, were left languishing in 20th spot to sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, Ireland international Gavin Bazunu made his debut in goals, as Stoke were left rueing a missed opportunity after being held to a tetchy 0-0 draw at home by QPR.
The play-off chasing Potters, who were looking for a third win in a row, enjoyed the better of the first-half opportunities against a visiting side content to sit back and soak up pressure.
Lamine Cisse, Tomas Rigo and Divin Mubama all went close during a bright opening 20 minutes from the hosts.
Advertisement
But too often Stoke’s lack of cutting edge was all too evident as they struggled to find a way through QPR’s well-drilled defence.
It was a similar tale in the second half for the misfiring hosts, with a stop-start half doing little to help them get into their attacking stride.
Ashley Phillips and Bae Jun-Ho saw the best of City’s chances go begging, white Kealey Adamson blazed a golden chance to win it for Rangers in stoppage time.
Stoke started on the front foot with Joe Walsh beating away a fierce long-range snap-shot from Rigo inside the opening 10 minutes.
Cisse hit the side-netting after getting on the end of Rigo’s teasing cross minutes later as Stoke continued to set the early pace.
The lively Rigo fired wide from a tight angle after a good run by Jun-ho created an opening, while Mubama headed just over from a Sorba Thomas corner after 20 minutes.
Ben Pearson produced a brilliant sliding tackle to nick the ball away from Kader Dembele after the visitors sprung a three-on-one counter-attack.
Maksym Talovierov turned the ball behind as Richard Kone prepared to tap home Amadou Mbengue’s cross.
Mubama then scuffed an effort straight at the keeper in the 32nd minute after the Rangers defence failed to clear a Thomas cross.
Talovierov was unable to divert Mubama’s shot into the net after having little time to react following a City corner seven minutes later.
Mbengue did well to block a Thomas header after the Stoke winger connected with a Rigo cross in first-half stoppage-time.
The hosts were dealt a blow at the start of the second half when Mubama was carried off after being caught by a late tackle by Jimmy Dunne.
Phillips headed a deep Thomas set-piece wide from the resulting free-kick, and Paul Smyth skied an effort over after creating half a yard of space just outside the box.
Walsh comfortably saved a well-struck effort by Jun-Ho after 74 minutes as Stoke began to enjoy a good spell of possession.
Phillips headed narrowly over from a dangerous Thomas cross with five minutes to go.
Adamson lacked composure deep into added time after finding himself in on goal.
Kone tamely headed straight at the keeper two minutes later from Adamson’s dinked cross.
David McGoldrick of Barnsley (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Meanwhile, ex-Ireland international David McGoldick found the net in League One for the first time since August, as his brace helped Conor Hourihane’s Barnsley beat Blackpool 2-1 to leave them 15th in the table.
In League Two, Cork’s Aaron Drinan continued his fantastic season, though his 20th goal in 25 games wasn’t enough, as second-place Swindon lost 3-2 to promotion rivals Salford.
Kildare native Conor Masterson scored as Gillingham beat Newport County 3-2 to move up to 14th in the table.
Ireland U21 international Darius Lipsiuc scored twice in the National League with Solihull Moors, though they could only draw 3-3 with Carlisle United thanks to former Bohemians and Dundalk striker Georgie Kelly’s hat-trick.
In Scotland, Dubliner Roland Idowu was on target as St Mirren drew 1-1 away at Livingston in the fourth round of the cup, before the visitors won 4-3 on penalties, after ex-Cork City striker Malik Dijksteel’s decisive spot kick.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Irish duo on target in Championship, Gavin Bazunu earns clean sheet on debut
Updated at 17.52
IRELAND DUO SAMMIE Szmodics and Jack Taylor were both on the scoresheet as Ipswich beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at Portman Road.
Two goals in the opening 12 minutes set promotion-seeking Ipswich, managed by Kieran McKenna, on their way, and they remain third in the table, hot on the heels of leaders Coventry, who defeated Leicester 2-1, and Middlesbrough, who beat West Brom 3-2 on Friday night.
Rovers conceded an own goal from debutant Eiran Cashin, while Ipswich midfielder Taylor scored the second, and Szmodics was on target in the 88th minute — to add the gloss — in a match where the hosts spurned a series of missed chances.
Blackburn, who failed to have a shot on target, were left languishing in 20th spot to sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, Ireland international Gavin Bazunu made his debut in goals, as Stoke were left rueing a missed opportunity after being held to a tetchy 0-0 draw at home by QPR.
The play-off chasing Potters, who were looking for a third win in a row, enjoyed the better of the first-half opportunities against a visiting side content to sit back and soak up pressure.
Lamine Cisse, Tomas Rigo and Divin Mubama all went close during a bright opening 20 minutes from the hosts.
But too often Stoke’s lack of cutting edge was all too evident as they struggled to find a way through QPR’s well-drilled defence.
It was a similar tale in the second half for the misfiring hosts, with a stop-start half doing little to help them get into their attacking stride.
Ashley Phillips and Bae Jun-Ho saw the best of City’s chances go begging, white Kealey Adamson blazed a golden chance to win it for Rangers in stoppage time.
Stoke started on the front foot with Joe Walsh beating away a fierce long-range snap-shot from Rigo inside the opening 10 minutes.
Cisse hit the side-netting after getting on the end of Rigo’s teasing cross minutes later as Stoke continued to set the early pace.
The lively Rigo fired wide from a tight angle after a good run by Jun-ho created an opening, while Mubama headed just over from a Sorba Thomas corner after 20 minutes.
Ben Pearson produced a brilliant sliding tackle to nick the ball away from Kader Dembele after the visitors sprung a three-on-one counter-attack.
Maksym Talovierov turned the ball behind as Richard Kone prepared to tap home Amadou Mbengue’s cross.
Mubama then scuffed an effort straight at the keeper in the 32nd minute after the Rangers defence failed to clear a Thomas cross.
Talovierov was unable to divert Mubama’s shot into the net after having little time to react following a City corner seven minutes later.
Mbengue did well to block a Thomas header after the Stoke winger connected with a Rigo cross in first-half stoppage-time.
The hosts were dealt a blow at the start of the second half when Mubama was carried off after being caught by a late tackle by Jimmy Dunne.
Phillips headed a deep Thomas set-piece wide from the resulting free-kick, and Paul Smyth skied an effort over after creating half a yard of space just outside the box.
Walsh comfortably saved a well-struck effort by Jun-Ho after 74 minutes as Stoke began to enjoy a good spell of possession.
Phillips headed narrowly over from a dangerous Thomas cross with five minutes to go.
Adamson lacked composure deep into added time after finding himself in on goal.
Kone tamely headed straight at the keeper two minutes later from Adamson’s dinked cross.
Meanwhile, ex-Ireland international David McGoldick found the net in League One for the first time since August, as his brace helped Conor Hourihane’s Barnsley beat Blackpool 2-1 to leave them 15th in the table.
In League Two, Cork’s Aaron Drinan continued his fantastic season, though his 20th goal in 25 games wasn’t enough, as second-place Swindon lost 3-2 to promotion rivals Salford.
Kildare native Conor Masterson scored as Gillingham beat Newport County 3-2 to move up to 14th in the table.
Ireland U21 international Darius Lipsiuc scored twice in the National League with Solihull Moors, though they could only draw 3-3 with Carlisle United thanks to former Bohemians and Dundalk striker Georgie Kelly’s hat-trick.
In Scotland, Dubliner Roland Idowu was on target as St Mirren drew 1-1 away at Livingston in the fourth round of the cup, before the visitors won 4-3 on penalties, after ex-Cork City striker Malik Dijksteel’s decisive spot kick.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Among the goals Gavin Bazunu Jack Taylor Sammie Szmodics Soccer Wrap